Bridgeton city council and mayoral candidates spend money

BRIDGETON — Mayor Jim Begley has raised more money and is outspending city councilman and candidate-for-mayor Albert Kelly’s team so far in his bid to keep control of Bridgeton City Council.

The first of three election contribution and expenditure reports pertaining to Bridgeton’s non-partisan city election were filed earlier this month with the county clerk’s office, showing Begley has raised $9,292 so far in his 2010 election campaign.

That’s more money than the current mayor and his running-mates raised altogether in their 2006 campaign, which resulted in the defeat of then-mayor Michael Pirolli, whose slate spent $38,168 on their campaign.

Begley has spent $6,650 so far in his 2010 campaign mostly for printing of brochures and signs, as well as party supplies.

Begley’s running-mates filed a separate report earlier this month, which states they have raised and spent $300 so far in the campaign.

“Money’s not flowing in like it used to be,” Begley said Wednesday, but agreed it has been easier raising money this time around compared with 2006 when his slate was considered to be a dark horse in the Bridgeton municipal race.

“We’ve received a lot of small donations,” he explained. “I think, from what I’ve been told, we’ve had about 300 different contributors. I think a lot of people have liked what we’ve done and decided to donate.”

Kelly’s “Progress Through Partnerships” ticket has raised $5,740 for its campaign so far and spent $817.14 of that amount, mostly on printing.